Henry Rollins And Stephen Colbert’s Punk Cover Of ‘Carol Of The Bells’ Will Get You In The Festive Mood

Guess what, everyone – it’s Christmas in a mere four days’ time! Yes, it’s time to wrap those presents (or make a mad dash out to town to get that set of keyrings you mum clearly needs), get the tinsel out and drink (responsibly) all the Baileys in sight.

But what about carol-singing? Well, if collective singing about mangers, holly and a rather Silent Night isn’t quite your thing, then perhaps Stephen Colbert and Henry Rollins will change your mind. Last week the Late Show host and former Black Flag frontman took on the seasonal classic ‘Carol of the Bells’ – you know, that quickly-worded, a Capella carol that you should definitely get your drunk aunt and uncle to recite late on Christmas Day – with the help of the former’s house band, Stay Human.

But it was a rendition with a twist – and we’re not talking about Colbert and Rollins’ cracking set of matching Christmas jumpers – as the song’s traditional feel was turned on its head somewhat by an embrace of the crashing, in-yer-face sound that Rollins’ band were famous for. Would Mykola Leontovych, the carol’s original composer, appreciate this treatment? We’re going to go with yes. Yes he absolutely would.